Electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill

ABSTRACT

An electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill having a cushioning rod assembly positioned at the rear end of the front support frame. The cushioning rod assembly is coupled to an electric cushioning mechanism. The electric cushioning mechanism includes a linking support, a cushioning drive motor, a slide element, and a slope guide plate. The linking support is provided with a roller at the bottom of both sides thereof, respectively. The cushioning drive motor has a guide screw rod. A pushing slope is formed at the bottom of both sides of the slide element. The pushing slope pushes against the slope guide plate. The roller of the linking support tends to slide on the path with different slopes by use of the angular change on the slope guide plate, thereby creating different reactive cushioning forces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill, and more particularly, to a structure that is electrically driven to allow the operator to freely conduct a fine adjustment of the reactive cushioning intensity at any time, thereby fully meeting the personal requirements of use.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, rubber pads interposed between the base frame and the platform of the treadmill often serve as cushioning elements for treadmills. When the platform is subject to compression, the rubber pads provide a cushioning force such that the reactive force acting on both feet of the operator during the exercise session tends to be reduced.

However, after observation and assessment of actual performance for a long period, most of the operators still think that the conventional cushioning elements are not ideal. Moreover, they are also not satisfied with the fixed type cushioning elements that are not freely adjustable. The physiological feelings for the comfort are significantly different from one another. As a result, we can see that the universal structural design with a single cushioning force is not properly in line with the actual needs of most operators.

Currently, various types of means for manually adjusting the cushioning force have been developed for resolving the above-mentioned problem. However, the operator has to adjust the setting values before use. Thereafter, he must stand on the treadmill for a trial walking or running for a short time to feel the comfort after adjustment. The operator has to repeat this process until an optimal cushioning force for himself is reached.

By the above brief description, we know that the above-mentioned improved design still has its inconvenience. Moreover, the operator must be discouraged to use the treadmill due to the repeated adjustment before use. Accordingly, the conventional structure requires further improvements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the invention is to provide an electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill that permits an electric fine adjustment such that, in the beginning of the operation, the operator may directly stand on the treadmill for a trial walking or running. At the same time, a fine adjustment of the cushioning intensity may be directly carried out by an electric button. In this way, an operator-oriented adjustment to meet the requirements of comfort in a short time is achieved. Even, the operator may change the adjustment according to his physical state. As a result, a convenient and practical use is ensured.

According to the invention, an electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill includes a cushioning rod assembly positioned at the rear end of the front support frame. The cushioning rod assembly is coupled to an electric cushioning mechanism. The electric cushioning mechanism includes a linking support, a cushioning drive motor, a slide element, and a slope guide plate. The linking support is provided with a roller at the bottom of both sides thereof, respectively. The cushioning drive motor has a guide screw rod. A pushing slope is formed at the bottom of both sides of the slide element. The pushing slope pushes against the slope guide plate. The roller of the linking support tends to slide on the path with different slopes by use of the angular change on the slope guide plate, thereby creating different reactive cushioning forces

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the action of the invention according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the partial structure of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the structure of the invention according to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the action of the invention according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a treadmill 10 according to the invention includes a continuous moving belt 14 positioned around a secondary base frame 11 and driven by an electric motor 13. A handrail frame 16 is mounted at both sides of the front end of a primary base frame 15, respectively. The bottom of the front end of the primary base frame 15 is provided with a front support frame 18 driven by a lifting motor 17 for adjusting the supporting angle of the primary base frame 15 that stands for the exercise slope. Moreover, several ground-touching elements 19 are fitted to the bottom of the rear side of the primary base frame 15.

A cushioning rod assembly 20 is positioned at the rear end of the front support frame 18. The cushioning rod assembly 20 is coupled to an electric cushioning mechanism 30. The electric cushioning mechanism 30 includes a linking support 32, a cushioning drive motor 34, a slide element 36, and a slope guide plate 37. The linking support 32 is provided with a roller 31 at the bottom of both sides thereof, respectively. The cushioning drive motor 34 has a guide screw rod 33. A pushing slope 35 is formed at the bottom of both sides of the slide element 36. The pushing slope 35 pushes against the slope guide plate 37. The roller 31 of the linking support 32 tends to slide on the path with different slopes by use of the angular change on the slope guide plate 37, thereby creating different reactive cushioning forces.

The cushioning drive motor 34 is disposed on a fixing rib 151 of the primary base frame 15 such that the guide screw rod 33 passes through the fixing rib 151 and is screwed to the slide element 36.

Furthermore, the cushioning rod assembly 20 is connected to the linking support 32 by use of a connecting rod 21 and an elastic element 22. When the front support frame 18 is forced to pull the linking support 32, the elastic element 22 produces an initial and proper cushioning effect first. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the cushioning drive motor 34 and the guide screw rod 33 are operated, the slide element 36 together with the pushing slope 35 is driven to carry out an axial to-and-fro movement, thereby imparting an angular change to the slope guide plate 37. In this way, the rollers 31 move on different slopes. It means that the primary base frame 15 and the secondary base frame 11 generate reactive cushioning forces in different intensity.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill, the treadmill having a continuous moving belt positioned around a secondary base frame and driven by an electric motor, a handrail frame mounted at both sides of the front end of a primary base frame, the bottom of the front end of the primary base frame provided with a front support frame driven by a lifting motor to adjust the supporting angle of the primary base frame, several ground-touching elements fitted to the bottom of the rear side of the primary base frame, wherein a cushioning rod assembly is positioned at the rear end of the front support frame is and coupled to an electric cushioning mechanism; wherein the electric cushioning mechanism includes a linking support, a cushioning drive motor, a slide element, and a slope guide plate, and wherein the linking support is provided with a roller at the bottom of both sides thereof, respectively, and wherein the cushioning drive motor has a guide screw rod, and wherein a pushing slope is formed at the bottom of both sides of the slide element, and wherein the pushing slope pushes against the slope guide plate, whereby each roller of the linking support tends to slide on the path with different slopes by use of the angular change on the slope guide plate, thereby creating reactive cushioning forces in different intensity.
 2. The electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning drive motor is disposed on a fixing rib of the primary base frame such that the guide screw rod passes through the fixing rib and is screwed to the slide element.
 3. The electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning rod assembly consists of a connecting rod and an elastic element, and wherein the cushioning rod assembly is connected to the linking support.
 4. The electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill of claim 3, wherein the front support frame is engaged with the linking support such that the elastic element cushions force from the front support frame upon the linking support.
 5. The electric cushioning mechanism of a treadmill of claim 1, wherein the cushioning drive motor and guide screw rod operate to drive the slide element and pushing slope in an axial to-and-fro movement to thereby impart an angular change to the slope guide plate. 